Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly condemned the military coup in the Republic of Benin, describing it as a dangerous affront to constitutional governance and a growing threat to democratic stability in West Africa.
Atiku, in a statement issued on Sunday, said the development was particularly troubling given the timing of recent coups in the sub-region, many of which coincided with electoral cycles in the affected countries.
He said, “I condemn, without reservation and in the strongest possible terms, the coup d’état in the Benin Republic. This reckless trend of assault on constitutional order is utterly unacceptable, not only because of its dangerous proximity, but because the era of military interference in governance is long over in Africa and our sub-region.”
The former Vice President noted that the Benin Republic is scheduled to hold its presidential election in April 2026, while the reported military intervention in Guinea-Bissau occurred just before the release of results in that country’s election.
According to him, the pattern raises genuine concerns that some political actors may be resorting to military backing to truncate democratic processes.
He warned that such assaults on democracy pose severe risks to the political health of the region.
“It raises fears that some political operators may be using the military to cancel the democratic processes. This trend is dangerous for the health of democracy in the West African sub-region and must be stopped before it becomes the rule and not the exception,” he said.
Atiku stressed that military personnel must remain within their constitutional roles, insisting that, “Soldiers have no business anywhere outside their barracks, and every decisive measure must be taken to crush any emerging appetite for subverting democracy.”
The former Vice President called on ECOWAS and the African Union to act decisively to prevent the resurgence of coups, safeguard electoral systems, and reinforce democratic norms in West Africa.
0 Comments